Fipronil contamination: Pidy profiteroles withdrawn from sale

Vince Bamford
· 15 September, 2017

Pidy has taken action to ensure its egg supply chain is free from fipronil contamination – including the use of new suppliers – following the discovery of “very small amounts” of the insecticide in three batches of its profiteroles.

Three batches of Pidy profiteroles, and 250g packs of Wafel Janssen Toasting Waffles sold in Morrisons, are the latest products to be withdrawn from sale as a result of the fipronil contamination scandal (see below for product details).

The contamination – which has prompted a wide range of product withdrawals across Europe – is believed to have originated from the use of broad-spectrum insecticide on farms in the Netherlands to combat parasites on chickens.

Fipronil is not authorised for use in food-producing animals, although the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said it is very unlikely there is any risk to public health from consuming affected products, and that withdrawals have been precautionary.

Among the affected products have been supermarket sandwiches, liquid egg and cake mixes.

Pidy said it tested its full range of ready-to-fill pastry products after fipronil was found in eggs coming from poultry farms in northern Europe.

“This testing highlighted that three batches of just one product within our range (profiteroles), contained very small amounts of fipronil, slightly above the detection level,” said Pidy UK general manager Robert Whittle. “The fipronil level detected in this product was far below the health security threshold stated by the FSA.”

Following these tests, the business undertook an “extensive” traceability exercise, contacting customers to ensure the affected profiteroles were removed from sale.

“Pidy prides itself on producing high-quality and safe products and we take product quality extremely seriously,” added Whittle. “We have been working closely with the FSA and our ingredients suppliers to advise all relevant parties since this food safety outbreak.”

Before production restarted on 21 August, Pidy rechecked its egg supply chain to make sure only safe egg products were received at its production sites, and that all suppliers held corresponding certificates.

“Where necessary, we opted for new suppliers,” said Whittle.

“We thank our customers for their continued support and apologise for any disruption or effect this may have had on businesses.”